One Room, Two Generations

One Room, Two Generations

ONE ROOM, TWO GENERATIONS

EPISODE 1:

The compound was quiet that afternoon.

The sun was hot, but there was a cold breeze blowing from the gutter side. You could hear the sound of the women chatting in the next compound, and children shouting "Up NEPA!" from the street.

Our room... Our one room... was at the back of the compound. We didn't have light because we couldn't afford the bills.

The paint on the wall had peeled off.

There was one window with no curtain, just old clothes covering half of it. When it rains, we take our buckets out to catch drops of water. At least I wouldn't have to fetch from the well in other neighbors' houses.

I was sitting on the edge of the bed.

It wasn't even a proper bed. It was the type you could compare with that of an old clinic with old foam.

Mum always says I would make her proud and change our situation.

I was resting on the wall, my heart beating so fast.

Today was the day.

I looked at Mummy. She was on the bed, sweating due to the heat. There was no light in my house.

She turned and saw me.

"Bimpe, what is it? Why are you looking like that?"

I stared at her, my heart racing and legs shaking.

"Mummy...." My voice came out small but sharp.

"What again? Hope you didn't fail any course or you aren't about to bill me? I don't get money oh, we dey manage. You can see we don't even have light in here," she was already sounding tired.

I took a deep breath.

This was it. The day I had been waiting for. I had planned everything since last night. I was already wondering how she would react. Would she still love me? I thought in my head.

I swallowed a big lump of saliva.

"Mummy... I'm pre... pregnant," I stammered

The room went silent.

I could hear my heartbeat. I can say a graveyard was noisier than the atmosphere.

I broke the silence. "Won't you say anything?"

"All this your silly jokes. When you are done, go and take the remaining eba in the kitchen and eat."

"Mum, I am serious."

She finally raised her head, sat up and looked at me. "You are serious oh. Repeat what you said," she said.

"I’m pregnant."

The words left my mouth and the whole one room went silent again.

"What did you just say, Bimpe? Repeat it!" Mum’s voice shook the walls.

"Mum, don't act like you didn't hear me. I said I am pregnant!" I folded my arms and faced her.

Mum’s eyes went wide. Then red. "So you want to bring another child into this one room we are managing, Bimpe? It is not possible!"

Tears started falling from her eyes.

"You see how I'm struggling for you, Bimpe? God knows I am trying. I speak to you as mother to daughter. Do you know what my mates are wearing? I know what I am supposed to be eating, but I sacrificed that just for you. You, Bimpe."

"Hmm... the pattern is about to repeat itself," she whispered, tears falling.

My chest tightened. "Pattern? What pattern, Mum? Are children not a blessing from God?"

"Mummy abeg, don't vex me like this," I snapped, squeezing my face. "You are making it sound like a curse."

She wiped her tears with the back of her hand and looked at me. Really looked at me.

"Children are a blessing... when they come the proper way, my dear."

Then her voice dropped.

"When I was your age, young, beautiful and intelligent, I won different awards."

I frowned. This was new. Mum never talks about her past.

I came from a well to do family.

"Well to do"? I thought in my head then why are we in the one room. I remained quiet allowing her to speak.

"My parents were not poor. They were not rich like Dangote, but they were okay, we had everything. 3 bedroom flat. Light. Food. School fees." I had everything without knowing where they came from, in short, I never lacked."

She put her hands on her face and laughed bitterly.

...They were ready to sponsor my education to any length, as long as I stayed focused. My parents had two children: my brother John and I. I was 7 years older than him. I practically raised him when my parents were away."

She smiled sadly. "Despite all that, I still had time for my books. They were my companion. I wanted to become a great writer. My role model was Wole Soyinka, I used to read his books a lot. I told my daddy, 'Daddy I will be a big writer one day.' He used to laugh and say 'my daughter will make me proud, always know I will be with you in every step you take'.

She paused. The room was so quiet I could hear my heart beat and the neighbors gossip.

Then she looked straight into my eyes and sighed...

"Bimpe, the same thing that happened to me 20 years ago... is happening to you now."

......

To be continued in episode 2...

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